Upland Community Partnership dinner to raise funds for its afternoon program

One of the more successful ones locally is the Upland Community Partnership. It was created almost two decades ago after a local businessman was murdered by gang members and his family and community members said something had to be done.

"It was a positive response to a terrible tragedy," said Sue Sundell, long-time board member.

"Its purpose then and now is to support programs that enhance the educational, social, physical and emotional needs of Upland youth, leading them away from patterns of crime and juvenile delinquency and helping them to succeed in school. Research shows that youth behave better, handle conflict more easily, improve their social skills and benefit from positive adult attention when they get involved in afterschool programs."

And that has been the Upland Community Partnership's mission all these years later.

It operates at three different school sites within the city, offering young people a place where they can get help with their homework or just hang out.

The nonprofit group relies on donations and grants to keep going. Once a year, it hosts a community spaghetti dinner to raise money. This year will mark the 16th year of its existence. The dinner is scheduled for Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the George Gibson Senior Center in downtown Upland.

In addition to the supper, there will be opportunity drawings. Local woodworker Dennis Hays has donated a handcrafted sideboard, valued at $1,500, for the event.

"The spaghetti dinner is our only fundraiser. Money raised helps pay for staff and supplies for our three neighborhood sites. The balance of our funding comes from grants," Sundell said.

"We operate these neighborhood-based programs four days a week after school. Children get curriculum-related activities provided to them in order to develop skills for success. Upland Public Library's bookmobile visits monthly. Police and fire personnel also stop by to talk to the kids. Each day between 20 to 40 children participate at each site."

The programs are working, according to several who are associated with them.

`The partnership's afterschool program has been very successful for my boys. They are more conscientious about doing the school work and making sure they get it done correctly. Both have become better students," said parent Valentina Smith.

"Over the years there has been a transformation in our neighborhoods served by the Upland Community Partnership. Our children have found a safe place to receive tutoring and mentoring," said Upland Police Chief Jeff Mendenhall.

And, "So many of our children are left to fend on their own after school without parental guidance to keep them out of gangs and out of trouble. These children soon find their way into the juvenile delinquency courts and all too often end up in the adult criminal system. Community based afterschool programs provide a viable alternative," said Superior Court Judge Mary E. Fuller.